Ratcheter



Dec. 14, 1965 R. H. MCDONALD RATCHETER Filed June 25, 1963 INVENTOR. 3055524 HMfion Aw ATTO/VEY United States Patent;

3,222,943 RATCHETER Russell H. McDonald, Canoga Park, Califi, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 25, 1963, Ser. No. 290,551 7 Claims. (Cl. 74-157) This invention relates generally to torque transmission device-s and particularly to an improved ratchet mechamsm.

It is well known in the art to equip wrenches and the like with an integral ratchet mechanism so that an intermittent unidirectional torque may be exerted on a workpiece by oscillation of the wrench handle. Some types of wrenches, however, are not equipped with such an integral ratchet mechanism, and, for this reason, so-called ratcheters have been devised for imparting a ratcheting action to a normally non-ratcheting wrench. A typical ratcheter for this purpose comprises two relatively rotatable parts operatively connected by a ratchet mechanism, one of which parts has a socket, or the like, to receive the wrench and the other of which parts has a shank for connection to a wrench socket or other driven member.

The ratchet mechanism of the present invention is designed primarily for embodiment in such a ratcheter. For this reason, the invention is disclosed herein in connection with a ratcheter of improved design. It will become readily evident as the description proceeds, however, that the present ratchet mechanism is not limited to use in a ratcheter but, rather, is susceptible of general application in any device requiring a ratcheting action. Accordingly, the improved ratcheter disclosed herein should be regarded as merely illustrative of one particular application of the present improved ratchet mechamsm.

A general object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improved reversible ratchet mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ratchet mechanism which is characterized by its relative simplicity of construction, economy of manufacture, ruggedness, compactness, and by its otherwise unique adaptability to its intended purposes.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved ratcheter embodying the present ratchet mechamsm.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

Briefly, the objects of the invention are attained by providing a ratchet mechanism equipped with a hollow outer part open at one end and having internal serrations, or ratchet teeth, and an inner part axially inserted into the open end of the outer part and having at least one transverse guide slot containing a ratchet pawl. The pawl is shiftable in its slot between a first position of driving engagement of one pawl end with said ratchet teeth, wherein the ratchet mechanism is conditioned for driving in one direction, and a second position of driving engagement of the other pawl end with said teeth, wherein the ratchet mechanism is conditioned for driving in the opposite direction.

The present invention provides a unique pawl actuating or reversing means for shifting the ratchet pawl between its driving positions, thereby to reverse the ratchet mechanism. This pawl actuating means includes a rotary pawl actuator coaxially arranged within the inner part of the mechanism and including an operating lever which projects through a radial opening in the latter part. The arrangement of this pawl actuator is such as to uniquely adapt the ratchet mechanism to use in a ratcheter. Ac-

Patented Dec. 14, 1965 cording to a further aspect of the invention, the latter provides an improved ratcheter embodying the present ratchet mechanism.

A ratcheter constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail by reference to the attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a ratcheter according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a left-hand end view of the ratcheter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right-hand end view of the ratcheter in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged axial section through the ratcheter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section, on reduced scale, taken along line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section, on reduced scale, taken along line 66 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a section, on reduced scale, taken along line 77 in FIG. 4.

The ratcheter 10 illustrated in this drawing comprises a hollow, cylindrical outer part, or body 12 having a circular opening 14 extending coaxially into one end thereof. Extending across the opposite end of the body 12 is an integral end wall 16. An integral polygonal shank 18 projects from the end wall 16 along the central axis 20 of the ratcheter. This shank is adapted to be connected, in the well-known way, to a wrench socket 22, or the like. Shank 18 carries the usual spring-loaded detent or ball 24 for releasably locking the ratcheter shank 18 in the socket 22.

The wall of the coaxial opening 14 in the ratcheter body 12 is formed, adjacent the end wall 16, with a series of axially extending, circumferentially spaced ratchet serrations or teeth 26. The wall of the body opening 14 is preferably relieved at opposite ends of the ratchet teeth 26, as shown at 28 and 30, to facilitate formation of the ratchet teeth. The ratchet teeth may be conveniently formed, for example, by a broaching operation. The

relief, or counterbore 28 in the ratcheter body is slightly deeper than the ratchet teeth 26, thereby to form an annular thrust shoulder 32 within the ratcheter body. Body 12 forms the driven member of the illustrated ratcheter.

Axially inserted into the open end of the ratcheter body 12 is an inner part 34 which forms the driving member of the illustrated ratcheter. Driving member 34 has an intermediate, external annular shoulder 36 which seats axially against the internal thrust shoulder 32 on the ratcheter body 12 to position the driving member 34in one axial direction in the body. A snap ring 38, seating in a groove 40 in the Wall of the body opening 14, positions the driving member in the opposite direction in the ratcheter body. Driving member 34 has a right-hand end 41 of reduced diameter which projects beyond the shoulder 36 into the interior space of the ratcheter body encompassed by the ratchet teeth 26. It will be observed that a slight radial clearance exists between the outer surface of this latter end of the driving member and the tips of the ratchet teeth. The opposite, or left-hand, end

42 of the driving member extends through and beyond the open end of the ratcheter body 12, as shown.

Extending axially into the outer end 42 of the driving member 34 is a polygonal socket 44 which continues, at its inner end, in a cylindrical bore 46. Bore 46 terminates in a transverse end face 48 located a short distance to the right of the right-hand annular face of the shoulder 36 on the driving member, as the latter is viewed in FIG. 4. Socket 44 in the driving member 34 is adapted to receive the shank of a normally non-ratcheting wrench 50. The driving member is equipped with the usual spring-loaded detent 52 for releasably securing the wrench shank in the socket 44 of the ratcheter.

Extending axially into the inner end of the driving member 34 are guide slots 54 which parallel and are located at opposite sides of a plane containing the axis 20 of the ratcheter. In FIG. 4, it will be observed'that the bottom walls 56 of the slots 54 are disposed 'in substantially a common plane located to the left of the end wall 48 of bore 46 in the driving member 34. Slidably positioned in the slots 54 are ratchet pawls 58.

Ratchet pawls 58 are generally flat rectangular blocks formed with ratchet teeth 60 along opposite edges thereof which are adapted for driving engagement with the ratchet teeth 26 on the ratcheter body 12. The ratchet pawls 58 are movable in their respective slots between first driving positions, wherein the ratchet teeth 60 along one edge of the pawls are disposed in driving engagement with the ratchet teeth 26, and second driving positions, wherein the opposite ratchet teeth 60 on-the pawls are disposed in driving engagement with the ratchet teeth 26. In one of these driving positions, the ratcheter is conditioned for driving in one direction of rotation. In the opposite driving position, the ratchete r is conditioned for driving in the opposite direction of rotation.

Ratchet pawls 58 are moved to these driving positions by a pawl actuator 62. Pawl actuator 62 comprises a plug or shaft 64 rotatably fitted in the bore of the driving member 34. Fixed in and extending transversely of the right-hand end of this shaft, as the latter is viewed in FIG. 4, is a crosspin 66. The ends of the crosspin' 66 project beyond the shaft 64 into slots 68 in the ratchet pawls 58. Pawl slots 68 are somewhat wider than the diameter of the crosspin 66, whereby the'shaft 64 can be rotated in its bore 46 to shift the pawls in opposite directions in their respective guide slots 54.- Rotation of the shaft 64 in one direction simultaneously shifts the pawls 58 to one driving position thereof, and rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction simultaneously shifts the pawls totheir other driving position. Threaded in the left-hand end of the pawl actuator shaft 64, as the latter is viewed in FIG. 4, is a pawl reversing lever 70 which extends transversely of the shaft 64 to the exterior of the driving member 34 through anaccess slot 72 in the latter member. Thus, the ratchet pawls 58 may be shifted from one driving position to the other by'm-oving or rotating the pawl reversing lever 70 from one end of its slot 72- to the opposite end of the slot.

EXtending through the driving member 34, midway between the ends of the pawl guide slots 54, is a bore 74. Slidably fitted in opposite ends of this bore are a pair of c-onically pointed detents 76. A coil compression spring 77 disposed in the bore 74 between the detents 76 resiliently urges the latter outwardly againstthe ratchet pawls 58. The surface or each ratchet pawl confronting the respective detent 76 is formed witha pair of parallel V- shaped grooves 78 which extend transverse to the direction of movement of the pawls and parallel to the ratchet teeth 60 on the pawls. The grooves 78 in each ratchet pawl 58 are so located that the adjacent spring-loaded detent 76 engages in one grooveof the respective pawl when the latter occupies one of its driving positions and in the opposite groove of the respective pawl when the latter occupies its other driving position. The adjacent walls 80 of the grooves 78 in each ratchet pawl 58 define inclined cam faces which are engaged by the adjacent detent 76'when the respective pawl occupies its driving positions. It will be observed that the thrust of the spring-loaded detents 76 against the cam faces 80 on the ratchet pawls'58 yieldably retains the pawls in their respective driving positions. When the pawls are shifted from one driving position to the other by rotation of the pawl reversing lever 70, the detents 76 snap from one pawl groove to the other, thereby, in effect, indexing the pawls in their driving positions and, as well, furnishing an indication to the operator that the pawls are properly set in driving position. 7

Operation of the ratcheter described above is believed to be obvious from the foregoing description. Thus, the ratcheter is conditioned for driving in one direction of rotation by shifting the pawl reversing lever 70 to one end of its slot '72 and is conditioned for driving in the opposite direction by shifting of the pawl reversing lever to the opposite end of its slot. Duringrelative ratcheting rota tion of the body 12 and driving member 34 of the ratcheter, the pawls 58 are cammed inwardly against the biasing force of the spring-loaded detents 76by the camming action between the ratchet teeth 26 on the ratcheter body 12 and the ratchet teeth 60-on the ratchet pawls 58. When the driving member 34 of the ratcheter is rotated in the opposite direction, the ratchet pawls lock; the driving member to the ratchet body, whereby the latter rotates with the driving member.

It is evident that the ratchet mechanism described above is uniquely ada ted for use in a ratcheter of the kind illustrated in the drawing. As preliminarily pointed out, however, and as will now be obvious, the ratchet mechanism may be embodied in other ratcheting devices.

Clearly, therefore, the invention herein described and illustrated is fully capable of attaining the several objects and advantages preliminarily set forth.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, various modifications in the design, arrangement of parts, and instrumentalities of the invention are possible within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A ratchet mechanism, comprising:

an outer body having a circular opening extending axially into one end thereof, the wall of said opening being serrated to form ratchet teeth;

an inner member rotatably mounted in said body opening, said member having a transverse guideway within said body opening which opens at oppositeends toward said ratchet teeth;

a ratchet pawl slidable in said guideway and having ratchet teeth at its ends adapted for driving engagernent with said body teeth, said pawl being movable in one direction in said guideway to a first position of driving engagement with said body, wherein said mechanism is conditioned to ratchet in one direction, and said pawl being movable in the opposite direction in said guideway to a second positon of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said mechanism is conditioned to ratchet in the opposite direction;

means for resiliently retaining said pawl in each of said positions thereof;

a pawl actuator coaxially journaled in a bore in said inner member;

means operatively connecting said pawl actuator and pawl, whereby the latter is shiftable from one driving position thereof to the other by rotation of said; actuator; and

a transverse pawl reversing lever on said actuator extending to the exterior ofsaid member through a side wall slot in the member.

2. A ratchet mechanism, comprising:

an outer body having a circular opening extending, axially into one end thereof, the wall of said opening, being serrated to form ratchet teeth; I

an inner member rotatably mounted in said body open-- ing, said member having a transverse guideway with-- in said body opening which opens at opposite ends-v toward said ratchet teeth;

a ratchet pawl slidable in said guideway and having ratchet teeth at its ends adapted for driving engagement with said body teeth, said pawl being movable in one direction in said guideway to a first position of driving engagement with said body, wherein said mechanism is conditioned to ratchet in one direction and said pawl being movable in the opposite direction in said guideway to a second position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said mechanism is conditioned to ratchet in the opposite direction;

means for resiliently retaining said pawl in each of said positions thereof;

a pawl actuator shaft coaxially journaled in said memher;

a crosspin on said shaft engaging in a slot in said pawl through an opening in said member, whereby the pawl is shiftable from one driving position thereof to the other by rotation of said actuator; and

a transverse pawl reversing lever on said actuator extending to the exterior of said member through a side wall slot in the member.

3. A ratchet mechanism, comprising:

an outer body having a circular opening extending axially into one end thereof and an integral end wall at the other end of said body, the wall of said opening being serrated to form ratchet teeth;

an inner member rotatably mounted in said body opening, said member having an end face presented toward said body end wall and a transverse slot opening along one side through said end face and at its ends toward said body teeth;

a ratchet pawl slidable in said slot and having ratchet teeth at its ends adapted for driving engagement with said body teeth, said pawl being movable in one direction in said slot to a first position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said mechanisms is conditioned to ratchet in one direction, and said pawl being movable in the opposite direction in said slot to a second position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said mechanism is conditioned to ratchet in the opposite direction;

means for resiliently retaining said pawl in each of said positions thereof;

a pawl actuator coaxially journaled in a bore in said inner member;

means operatively connecting said pawl actuator and pawl, whereby the latter is shiftable from one driving position thereof to the other by rotation of said actuator; and

a transverse pawl reversing lever on said actuator extending to the exterior of said member through a side wall slot in the member.

4. A ratchet mechanism, comprising:

an outer body having a circular opening extending axially into one end thereof and an integral end wall at the other end of said body, the wall of said opening being serrated to form ratchet teeth;

an inner member rotatably mounted in said body opening, said member having an end face presented toward said body end wall and a pair of parallel transverse slots opening along one side through said end face and at their ends toward said body teeth;

a ratchet pawl slidable in each slot and having ratchet teeth at its ends adapted for driving engagement with said body teeth, each pawl being movable in one direction in its respective slot to a first position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said mechanism is conditioned to ratchet in one direction, and each pawl being movable in the opposite direction in its respective slot to a second position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said mechanism is conditioned to ratchet in the opposite direction;

means for resiliently retaining said pawls in each of said positions thereof;

a pawl actuator coaxially journaled in a bore in said inner member;

means operatively connecting said pawl actuator and pawls, whereby the latter are shiftable from one driv- 6 ing position thereof to the other by rotation of said actuator; and

a transverse pawl reversing lever on said actuator extending to the exterior of said member through a side wall slot in the member.

5. A ratcheter, comprising:

an outer body having a circular opening extending axially into one end thereof and an integral end wall with a protruding polygonal shank at the other end of said body, the wall of said opening being serrated to form ratchet teeth;

an inner member rotatably mounted in said body opening, said member having a transverse guideway within said body opening which opens at opposite ends toward said ratchet teeth;

a ratchet pawl slidable in said guideway and having ratchet teeth at its ends adapted for driving engagement with said body teeth, said pawl being movable in one direction in said guideway to a first position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said ratcheter is conditioned to ratchet in one direction, and said pawl being movable in the opposite direction in said guideway to a second position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said ratcheter is conditioned to ratchet in the opposite direction;

means for resiliently retaining said pawl in each of said positions thereof;

a polygonal socket extending coaxially into the outer end of said member and continuing at its inner end in a coaxial bore;

a pawl actuator coaxially journaled in said bore;

means operatively connecting said pawl actuator and pawl, whereby the latter is shiftable from one driving position thereof to the other by rotation of said actuator; and

a transverse pawl reversing lever on said actuator extending to the exterior of said member through a side wall slot in the member.

6. A ratcheter, comprising:

an outer body having a circular opening extending axially into one end thereof and an integral end wall with a protruding polygonal shank at the other end of said body, the wall of said opening being serrated to form ratchet teeth;

an inner member rotatably mounted in said body opening, said member having a transverse slot within said body opening which opens at opposite ends toward said ratchet teeth;

a ratchet pawl slidable in said slot and having ratchet teeth at its ends adapted for driving engagement with said body teeth, said pawl being movable in one direction in said slot to a first position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said ratcheter is conditioned to ratchet in one direction, and said pawl being movable in the opposite direction in said slot to a second position of driving engagement with said body teeth, wherein said ratcheter is conditioned to ratchet in the opposite direction;

means for resiliently retaining said pawl in each of said positions thereof;

a polygonal socket extending coaxially into the outer end of said member and continuing at its inner end in a coaxial bore;

a pawl actuator coaxially journaled in said bore;

means operatively connecting said pawl actuator and pawl, whereby the latter is shiftable from one driving position thereof to the other by rotation of said actuator; and

a transverse pawl reversing lever on said actuator extending to the exterior of said member through a side wall slot in the member.

7. A ratcheter, comprising:

an outer body having a circular opening extending axially into one end thereof and an integral end wall with a protruding polygonal shank at the other end of said body, the Wall of said opening being serrated to form ratchet teeth;

an inner member rotatably mounted in said body opening, said member having a pair of parallel transverse slots within said body opening which open at opposite ends toward said ratchet teeth;

a ratchet pawl slidable in each slot and .having ratchet teeth at its ends adapted for driving engagement with said body teeth, each pawl being movable in one direction in its respective slot to a first position of drivingengagement;with said body teeth, wherein said ratcheter is conditioned to ratchet in one direction, and eachpawl being movable in the opposite direction in its respective slot to a second position of driving engagement.with said body teeth, wherein saidratcheter is conditioned to ratchet in the opposite direction;

means for resiliently retainingv said pawls in each of said positions thereof;

a polygonal socketextendingcoaxially into. the outer endof said member and continuing at .its inner end in a coaxial bore;

a pawl actuator coaxially journaled in said bore;

means operatively connecting said pawl actuator, and pawls, whereby the latter are shiftable, from one driving position thereof to the other by rotation of said actuator; and

a transverse pawl reversing lever on saidwactuator. ex-

tending to the exterior ofsaid member through a side wall slot in the member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,995,009 3/1935 Pfauser et a1 19243.2 2,283,382 5/1942 Mandl l9243.2 2,395,681 2/1946 Odlurn et a1. 192-432 2,544,795 3/1951 Knudsen. 3,127,799 4/1964 Berquist 81-63.1

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RATCHET MECHANISM, COMPRISING: AN OUTER BODY HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENING EXTENDING AXIALLY INTO ONE END THEREOF, THE WALL OF SAID OPENING BEING SERRATED TO FORM RATCHET TEETH; AN INNER MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY OPENING, SAID MEMBER HAVING A TRANSVERSE GUIDEWAY WITHIN SAID BODY OPENING WHICH OPENS AT OPPOSITE ENDS TOWARD SAID RATCHET TEETH; A RATCHET PAWL SLIDABLE IN SAID GUIDEWAY AND HAVING RATCHET TEETH AT ITS ENDS ADAPTED FOR DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BODY TEETH, SAID PAWL BEING MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION IN SAID GUIDEWAY TO A FIRST POSITION OF DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BODY, WHEREIN SAID MECHANISM IS CONDITIONED TO RATCHET IN ONE DIRECTION, AND SAID PAWL BEING MOVABLE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION IN SAID GUIDEWAY TO A SECOND POSITION OF DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BODY TEETH, WHEREIN SAID MECHANISM IS CONDITIONED TO RATCHET IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; MEANS FOR RESILIENTLY RETAINING SAID PAWL IN EACH OF SAID POSITIONS THEREOF; A PAWL ACTUATOR COAXIALLY JOURNALED IN A BORE IN SAID INNER MEMBER; MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID PAWL ACTUATOR AND PAWL, WHEREBY THE LATTER IS SHIFTABLE FROM ONE DRIVING POSITION THEREOF TO THE OTHER BY ROTATION OF SAID ACTUATOR; AND A TRANSVERSE PAWL REVERSING LEVER ON SAID ACTUATOR EXTENDING TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID MAMBER THROUGH A SIDE WALL SLOT IN THE MEMBER. 